Gold-separator



Patented Nov. 29, |898. A. T. FOX.

GOLD SEPARATOR.

(Applicdtion led Oct. 22, 1897.)

(No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT Prien.

AMOS T. FOX, OF SUMNER, VASHINGTON.

GOLD-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,153, dated November 29, 1898.

Application filed October 22, 1897. Serial No. 656,040. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern,.-

Beit known that I, AMOS T. FOX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sumner, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gold-Separators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention rrelates to goldseparators,and more particularly to that class of separators which are adapted to cause the amalgamation of the gold by bringingthe same into contact with mercury.

It consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, all of which will be more fully-described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is perspective of my improved separator, and Fig. 2 represents a vertical longitudinal section of the same.

A in the drawings represents a suitable frame; B B, stationary bowls; O C, intermediate bowls interposed between said bowls B B, and J a mercury-elevator.

rIhe frame A is formed with a base portion a and a top portion of, connected together by supporting-posts a2 a2, said top and base portions being also further secured and braced by rods a3 a3. V

The pans or bowls B B are preferably circular and located between the posts a2 c2, the lowest one of said bowls resting upon small plates a4 a4, secured to the said posts. The other bowls B-say four; in number-are mounted one above the other upon said lowest bowl. The plates a4 are fastened by set-screws, so that they can be adjusted to different heights.

The bowls B, preferably of pure copper, are made with bottoms converging toward the center, which are apertured, as at b, and said bowls are also provided with vertical rims b', which extend both above and below the bottom portions. The lower edges of the rims b' of all the bowls except the lower one are provided with offset portions b2, which are thus adapted to telescope with the upper edges of the rims next below them. A vertical shaft D, revolubly mounted in the frame A, as will be hereinafter further described, projects up through the apertures in the bowls B. The pans orbowls O Care secured by nuts or otherwise to the shaft D at points intermediate the bowls B. These bowls C are preferably made of copper and are of less diameter than the bowls B, so. as to leave anwith a bevel-gear d, adapted to mesh with another bevel-gear d', secured upon a crossshaft d2, having bearings in the top of the frame A. One end of the shaft (Z2 is extended a sufficient distance beyond the top a. of the frame to permit of a crank, pulley, or other suitable power-communicating means being secured thereto for rotating the same, and thereby the shaft D and the bowls C, when desired.

In using separators of this kind the purpose is to catch and separate gold particles which are carried in certain sands, dirt, and water, and such materials are adapted in my device to be delivered to the separator by a trough F, arranged in an inclined position above the bowls. The part of the trough F which is immediately over the bowl B is provided with a screen or perforated bottom, as f, which permits the water carrying the sand, gold, and all small particles to fall through upon said bowl B, while all large particles of dirt, stone, and similar substances are carried off and discharged at the lower end of the trough F. Beneath the lower bowl B and supported upon the frame a is arranged an inclined sluice-box Gr, so as to catch the discharge from the bowls above. This sluice G is provided with depressed portions g g, which are apertured, as at g g. The upper surface of the sluice-box is preferably covered with copper coated with mercury and is provided with diagonal rifiies g2 for catching particles of gold that may have escaped amalgamation in the bowls. One or more semicircular riffles g3 are arranged upon the lower side of ICO the apertures g g', so as to further prevent l nearly every particle of gold is adapted to be 5 the escape of any particles of gold. The sluice-box G is adapted to discharge into another inclined sluice-box II, which is copperlined and coated with mercury and is provided with depressed portions h and apertures 7L' 7L', the same as sluice-box G. The sluicebox II is also provided with diagonal rifles h2 and semicircular rill'les around the apertures 7L h', similar to those in said sluice G. The waste material is discharged from the separator by the sluice-box II.

Beneath the apertures g g of the sluice G and the apertures 7L h of the sluice II are arranged cups of similar receptacles I, preferably of copper, adapted to hold mercury and receive the gold or mercury that may drain through said apertures. These cups I may be provided with suitable cocks for draining oif the amalgamated material; but are preferably connected to the lower end of an elevator J, secured to the side of the frame A, by means of pipes j j. The pipes are so connected with the cups I as to convey the eX- cess of mercury from the same to the lower end of the elevator J. The elevator J, of any suitable construction, is operatively connected with one end of the shaft d2 and is provided with a discharge-spout j, adapted to deliver the mercury elevated into the upper bowl B.

The lower end of the vertical shaft D is mounted in a socket 7l in one of the mercurycups I, which socket is provided with a cylindrical extension i, projecting up above said cup I around the shaft D. Secured to the shaft D, above the extension t", is another larger cylinder i2, open at its lower end, inclosing the extension t" and extending nearly to the bottom of the cup I. By means of this construction dirt or any other matter coming down through the separatoris prevented from getting into the bearing of the shaft D.

In the operation of the device the material containing the gold is delivered to the trough F, the stones and large dirt being separated therefrom by the screen f and passing out the end of said trough, while the rest of the material drops through said screen upon the top bowl B. It will then run through the separator, dropping through the central apertures in bowls B to the bowls C and from the peripheries of bowls C to the bowls B. The bowls B and C are thoroughly coated with mercury, and in passing the material through them brought in contact with the mercury and amalgamated. The bowls C may be allowed to remain quiet; but it is preferable to revolve them by the means described, so that the material dropping upon said bowls C will be hurled in all directions, being caught by the surrounding walls of the bowls B. In this way the particles of gold are more thoroughly brought in contact and caught by the mercury. The continual discharge of mercury from the elevator J serves to keep the bowls well charged with the same. From the lower bowl B the material passes to the sluicebox G, and any particles of gold not caught before are amalgamated by the mercury on the surface of said sluice G, the mercury and gold being guided into the mercury-cups by the riiies. The sluice-box II receives the residue of the material from the sluice G and still further guards against any further escape of the gold by its riiiies and mercury-cups. It will be observed that when the bowls C are revolved their shape is peculiarly well adapted to accumulate the gold upon the bottom thereof, and thus all through the device the arrangement is such that there is very little chance of escape of any of the gold.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a gold-separator, the combination with a series of amalgamating-bowls, of a shaft for supporting and rotating some of the said bowls, a'sluice-box for receiving the discharge from said bowls, mercury-cups formed in the said sluice-box, a bearing mounted in one of said mercury-cups for supporting the lower end of the shaft, a sleeve formed upon the said bearing and extending a considerable distance above the same, an inelosing sleeve secured to the shaft and adapted to extend around the first-mentioned sleeve and the bearin g, the construction being such that the mercury in the cup and the dirt or other substances discharged from the bowls will be exclu ded from Said bearing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AMOS T. FOX. \Vitnesses:

FRANK J. MILLER, A. RErrH.

IOS 

